Mono-ski



United States Patent 3,529,847 MONO-SKI Ray F. Shores, Baltimore, Md. (3Brookebury Drive, Reisterstown, Md. 21136) Filed May 14, 1968, Ser. No.728,936 Int. Cl. B62b 17/06 US. Cl. 28012 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A single ski having an upwardly extending rod pivotallyconnected thereto and terminating in a handle bar. A braking systemoperable from the handle bar permits the position of the rod to beadjusted during use and a light connected to the rod can be oriented invarious directions by the skier without affecting the direction of theskis motion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to skis and, more particularly, to a mono-ski having an upwardlyextending member providing support to the skier.

Description of the prior art Traditionally, man has employed a pair ofskis in transversing snow covered terrain. As is well known, each ofthese skis consists of a single extended runner, curved upwardly at thefront end, and includes some type of fastening to facilitate attachmentto the foot of the skier. Considerable skill is required to utilizethese devices, i.e., for the operator to continually maintain hisbalance and to control the path of travel by exerting the properpressures through his legs and feet to the skis. More recently,increasing popularity is being enjoyed by devices comprising a singleski supporting the skier. In this case, the skier positions both of hisfeet on a single runner which is provided with an upwardly extending rodor arm terminating in a handle. By gripping the handle with both hands,the skier is able to obtain substantial support. Further, by exertingforces on the handle, transverse of the longitudinal axis of the ski,the skier is readily able to direct the course that the ski travels overthe snow. Because of the support and guidance assistance provided by theupright member, plus the fact that only one ski must be controlled,relatively little skill is required to operate skis of this latter type.Consequent- 1y, not only is this new skiing technique becoming popularwith skilled skiers, but it is also extremely popular with children andpersons learning to ski.

One major limitation of heretofore designed single skis is the fact thatthe support arm has either been permanently positioned with respect tothe ski runner or freely pivotally connected thereto. It has been foundhighly desirable for the skier to be able to change the position of thearm during different stages of the ski run and, of course, this is notpossible with the former type of structure. Additionally, this type ofstructure presents a potentially dangerous condition in case of accidentsince the skier is confronted with a rigid obstacle which can causegreat harm. The latter type of structure suffers from the fact that thefreely pivotal connection materially detracts from the amount of supportthe arm is able to provide to the skier.

Another problem experienced when using any type of ski equipment isassociated with night skiing. A number of lighted slopes are nowavailable, but Where unavailable for one reason or another, the skiermust either carry a lighted torch or his activities must be restrictedto the daytime. The lighted torch solution to the problem "ice isobviously inconvenient and requires an extreme degree of balance controland, therefore, is only possible for the most skilled skiers. Theinventor has devised a unique means whereby a person utilizing a singleski can continually scan the slope with a beam of light while skiingwithout adversely affecting his balance on the runner to any noticeabledegree.

These limitations of prior art ski apparatus are overcome by the presentinvention.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide animproved apparatus controlled by the skier for lighting ski slopes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a flashlightattachment for a mono-ski, the light beam of which can be oriented invarious directions by the skier without substantially aflfecting hisnormal skiing position or balance.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a flashlightattachment for a mono-ski, the light beam of which can be oriented invarious directions by the skier without exerting any force on the skirunner tending to change the direction of movement thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support member on amono-ski which can conveniently be fixedly positioned in a variety ofpositions by the skier while making a run.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fixedlypositioned support member on a mono-ski which will not present a rigidobstacle in case of accident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The novel features that are consideredcharacteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and its method of operation, together with additionalobjects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment when read inconnection With the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers havebeen employed in the different figures to denote the same parts andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a ski embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing inmore detail the entire support member of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention in its preferred embodiment brieflycomprises a ski runner having a pair of foot engaging members and arounded mounting cleat attached thereto. A support rod is pivotallyconnected to the mounting cleat and carries a pair of brake shoes whichreleasebly engage opposite sides of the mounting cleat. A handle bar isconnected to the other end of the support rod by a ball and socket jointand carries a flashlight and a pivotally mounted arm connected to thebrake shoes by a shielded cable. Movement of the arm from its normalposition against a restraining spring force disengages the brake shoesfrom the mounting cleat and permits the arm to be pivotally repositionedalong the longitudinal axis of the ski runner. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, apair of boot grips 10, 12 are shown mounted on a ski runner 14. Theseboot grips 10, 12 may conveniently be formed of molded rubber andattached by the skier, according to his personal desires, to the skirunner '14 by screws (not shown). A pad 16 of rubber or other materialhaving a relatively skid-proof surface is attached by any suitable meansto the ski runner 14 between it and the boot grips 12 so as to cover thegeneral area where the skiers feet will be positioned when using themono-ski of this invention. Also connected to the ski runner 14, wellforward of the boot grips 10, 12, is a mounting cleat 18 having arounded face 20 over which is positioned a clamp 22. A plurality ofscrews 24 passing through holes provided in flanged ends 26, 28 of theclamp 22 engages the ski runner 14 to securely fasten the mounting cleat18 thereto.

As may be better seen by reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, a pair of yoke arms30, 32 are attached to opposite sides of the lower end of a support rod34 and are provided with a pair of aligned bores 36, 38. The mountingcleat 18 is also provided with a bore 40. The support rod 34 ispivotally connected to the mounting cleat 18 by a bolt 42 which passesthrough the aligned bores 36, 38 of the yoke arms 30, 32 and the bore 40of the mounting cleat 18 and the yoke arms 30, 32 and a nut 48cooperates with threads of the bolt 42 to complete the assembly.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the support rod34 is of tubular construction. Inserted within the upper end 50 of thesupport rod 34 and fastened thereto by a bolt 52 is a nipple 54 providedwith a ball 56'. A socket member 58 is positioned on the ball 56 so asto form a ball and socket joint. Welded to opposite portions of thesocket member 58 are handle bars 60, 62. A flashlight 64 is mounted tothe top of the socket member 58 by a clamp 66.

Now referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the rear section of thesocket member 58 includes a slit 68 with opposed flanges 70, 72 disposedon either side thereof. A wing nut 74 passes through the flanges 70, 72and thereby provides means for adjusting the closeness of the fit of,i.e., the frictional forces between, the socket member 58 and the ball56. These frictional forces are adjusted by the use of the wing nut 74so that the handle bars 60, 62 can be freely turned or pivoted by theskier with respect to the support rod 34 but will readily retain anygiven position when released.

As may best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of brake shoe arms 76, 78are pivotally connected together and to the support rod 34 by a bolt 80which passes through bores suitably provided in the brake shoe arms anda bore 82 in the support rod. The inner faces of lower extremities 84,'86 of the brake shoe arms 76, 78 are provided with brake shoes 88, 90,respectively. Mounted on the bolt 80 is a U-type spring 92, the ends 94,96 of which are positioned between and against the upper extremities 98,100, respectively, of the brake shoe arms 76, 78. In this manner, theforces exerted by the U-type spring 92 on the brake shoe arms 76, 78continually urge the brake shoes 88, 90 into contact with the sides 102,104 of the mounting cleat 18. The brake shoes 88, 90 and the mountingcleat 18 are formed of materials that will provide excellent frictionalcontact therebetween. For instance, the mounting cleat 18 may be formedof Micarta and the brake shoes 88, 90, of rubber. I

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one end of a shielded cable is connectedthrough the upper extremities 98, 100 of the brake shoe arms 76, 78 andthe other end thereof is connected to a lever 10 8 pivotally attached tothe handle bar 62 by a clamp 110. Clamps 112 and 114 retain theintermediate section 116 of the shielded cable 106 in snug fit againstthe support rod 34.

It will be appreciated that the spring 92 will continually urge thebrake shoes 88, 90 against the sides 102, 104 of the mounting cleat 1-8,respectively, and the lever 108 towards its extended position away fromthe handle bar 62. When the skier exerts a gripping force on the handlebar 62 and lever 108 so as to move the lever towards the 4 handle bar,the brake shoes 88, will be withdrawn from contact with the mountingcleat 18.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In operation, the skier positionshimself on the ski runner 14 by placing the toes of his boots in therespective boot grips 10, 12. He then adjusts the upward orientation ofthe support rod 34 with respect to the ski runner 1-4 to suit hispreference by exerting a squeezing force on the handle bar 62 and lever108, thereby releasing the brake shoes 88, 90 from contact with themounting cleat 18, pivoting the support rod 34 to the desired positionand releasing his grip on the lever which then causes the brake shoes togrip the mounting cleat under the force of spring 92. The support rod 34is then locked into the desired position. Simultaneously, the handlebars 60, 62 are moved to the desired position against the frictionalforces between ball 56 and socket member 58.

The skier then commences his run down the slope gripping the handle bars60', 62 to obtain support. Additionally, he controls the course followedby the ski runner 14 by exerting forces thereon, as desired, transverseof the longitudinal axis 118 (FIG. 1) of the runner through the handlebars 60, 62 and the support rod 34. During his run, the skier will oftenfind it desirable to change the orientation of the support rod 34 on themounting cleat 18 with respect to the ski runner 14. This is readilyaccomplished by squeezing the lever 108 toward the handle bar 62 torelease the brake shoes 88, 90', pivoting the support rod 34 to the newposition and subsequently releasing the lever 108 to look the supportrod in the new position by action of the brake shoes against themounting cleat '18.

When using the mono-ski at night on an unlighted or dimly lighted slope,the same procedure set forth above is followed. Additionally, theflashlight 64 is energized prior to commencing the run. As the skiertransverses his course, he can continually scan the slope with the lightbeam emitted from the flashlight 64 for obstacles and other hazardswithout removing his hands from the handle bars 60, 62, thereforewithout adversely affecting his balance on the ski runner 14.Additionally, this scanning operation is accomplished without thenecessity of exerting any forces through the support rod 34 on the skirunner 14 acting transverse of its longitudinal axis 118 which wouldunintentionally affect the course traveled by the runner. This highlyadvantageous light beam scanning technique is made possible by theuniversal type connection between the handle bars 60, 62 and support rod34 provided by the ball 56 and socket member 58.

The support rod 34- can be moved to its rearwardmost.

position to facilitate storage of the equipment when not in use. Fortowing purposes, the support rod 34- can be moved to its forwardmostposition.

It is possible to provide other means for releasably engaging thesupport rod 34 to a mounting cleat. For instance, the brake shoes 88, 90could be replaced with prongs which would engage and disengage lockinggrooves radially provided around the sides of the mounting cleat.However, the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings has animportant advantage over a mono-ski incorporating this type ofstructure. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the supportrod 34 does not constitute a rigid obstacle in case of an accident. Thefrictional contact between the brake shoes 88, 90' and the mountingcleat 18 are such as to permit the support rod to pivot under forcesexerted on it by the skier should an accident occur.

This invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential character thereof. Theembodiments described herein are therefore illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a mounting cleat fixedly attached to said ski runner;

a rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said mounting cleat;

a handle bar connected to the other end of said rod adapted to providesupport for said skier;

first means mounted on said rod to releasably engage said cleat;

second means operable by said skier to selectively disengage andre-engage said first means with respect to said cleat while using saidski runner; said first means including brake shoes and said second meansincluding a cable having one end thereof connected to said brake shoesand the other end thereof operably connected to said handle bar.

2. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a rounded mounting cleat having flat sides fixedly attached to said skirunner;

a rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said cleat and theother end terminating in a ball;

a handle bar having a socket formed centrally thereof and positioned onsaid ball to form a ball and socket joint;

a light positioned on said socket;

brake shoes mounted on said rod to releasably engage respective saidflat sides of said mounting cleat;

a lever pivotally mounted from said handle bar and adapted to be grippedby said skier when supporting himself from said handle bar; and

a cable connected between said brake shoes and said lever wherebymovement of said lever by said skier will cause'said brake shoes tobecome disengaged from said cleat.

3. Ski apparatus comprising:

a ski runner;

a rod having one end pivotally connected to said ski runner and adaptedto extend upwardly from said ski runner;

handle bar means attached to said rod by universal joint means to permitmovement about the point of attachment to said rod, said handle barmeans being adapted to be gripped by said skier whereby said skier canobtain support while skiing and through which said skier can exertforces on said rod in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis ofsaid ski runner to change the direction of movement of said ski runner;and

a light fixedly attached to said handle bar means, whereby the skier maychange the direction of the light beam emitted from said light whileusing said ski apparatus without exerting any substantial forces on saidrod in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of said skirunner.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including means to adjust the easeof movement of said handle bar means about the point of attachment tosaid rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for attaching said handlebar means to said rod comprises a ball and socket joint.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further including means to adjust thefrictional forces within said ball and socket joint.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connection between said rod andsaid ski runner comprises:

a mounting cleat fixedly attached to said ski runner;

and

a pin passing through said cleat pivotally connecting said rod to saidcleat;

and additionally including:

second means mounted on said rod for releasably engaging said cleat; and

third means operable by said skier to selectively disengage andre-engage said second means with respect to said cleat while using saidski runner.

8. The ski apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second means includes brakeshoes.

9. The ski apparatus of claim 7 wherein said third means includes acable having one end thereof connected to said second means and theother end thereof Operably connected to said first means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,415 3/1926 Ferris 28011.13XR 1,785,783 12/1930 Mohr 280-46 2,202,217 5/1940 Mallory 74-4912,710,334 6/1955 Peterson 240-755 FOREIGN PATENTS 989,562 4/ 1965 GreatBritain.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner L. I. PAPERNER, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

